The 22 Best, Easiest Houseplants to Grow in Any Home

Pothos

Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and almost impossible to kill. Pothos are trailing plants that just keep on growing, up to 10 feet or more. Pruning the plants will keep them fuller at the base, and each cutting can be rooted in water to create more plants.

Pothos plants like to dry out between waterings, but if left dry too long, leaves wilt and eventually dry and fall. They are very tolerant of all types of light conditions, even artificial office lights.

You can let them trail down or secure them to a support or trellis. There are many variegated and golden varieties available.

• Name: Epipremnum
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Water: Allow soil to dry completely in between each watering
• USDA Zones: 10-12

Spider Plant

Often grown in hanging baskets, spider plants will grow two to two and a half feet wide and two to three feet long. Their roots tend to fill a pot, so repotting the houseplant might be necessary every couple of years.

• Name: Chlorophytum comosum
• Light: Partial, shade
• Water: Regular watering; keep moist but not soggy
• USDA Zones: 9-11

ZZ Plant

ZZ plants are easy-to-care-for houseplants, only requiring minimum care. These plants need bright, indirect light and water every couple of weeks. ZZ plants grow from rhizomes, which help them store water under the soil, making them drought-tolerant plants.

• Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Water: Water once every couple of weeks
• USDA Zones: 9-11

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa, also called the "split-leaf philodendron" boasts glossy, heart-shaped leaves that have a characteristic split. This easy-to-grow climbing evergreen grows about 1 to 2 feet a year.

It thrives in warm, humid weather with partial shade and requires a deep pot with well-draining soil when kept as an indoor plant.

• Name: Monstera deliciosa
• Light: Partial shade
• Water: Regular watering
• USDA Zones: 10-12

Philodendron

Philodendrons are fast-growing houseplants that need warmth and moisture near a sunny window. Do not put them in direct sun, as their leaves are sensitive to burning easily. Indoors, set them up by a window that gets bright, indirect light. 

Boost humidity around your philodendron if you live in a dry climate using a humidifier or fine mist spray bottle. Philodendrons come in two types: vining and non-climbing. The vining varieties require a trellis, while non-climbers grow upright.

• Name: Philodendron spp.
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Water: Water once top layer of soil has dried
• USDA Zones: 9-11

Snake Plant

These are long-lived, easy-care houseplants. Snake plant is tolerant of low light. Water sparingly or it will rot. Only one or two waterings are necessary indoors during the winter, depending on the level of humidity. Variegated forms need more light and can be more difficult to grow.

• Name: Sansevieria
• Light: Sun to partial shade
• Water: Sparingly
• USDA Zones: 10+

Aloe

The sap from aloe vera plants is used as a skin moisturizer and to heal minor cuts and ease sunburn. While it is a very useful plant, it's also attractive. Because it is a succulent, it needs very little water and prefers bright, but indirect sunlight, especially in cooler temperatures.

An aloe plant will grow for years in the same container. If you decide to use some leaves, don't remove more than a third of the plant at one time.

• Name: Aloe vera 
• Light: Full, partial
• Water: Regular watering; allow soil to dry completely in between each watering
• USDA Zones: 8-11

Cast Iron Plant

The cast iron plant earned its name by surviving under the worst of conditions, even outdoors in the deep shade. It prefers low light. The leaves are sword-like, pointed, and about four inches wide and two feet long. The cast iron plant grows in a clump and will occasionally flower indoors. A variegated version is available with white stripes and 'Milky Way' is studded with white dots.

• Name: Aspidistra elatior
• Light: Partial, shade
• Water: Minimal
• USDA Zones: 7-9

Chinese Evergreen

The Chinese evergreen plant is extremely forgiving and can adapt to most indoor conditions although it does not like drafts or prolonged temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

It prefers low or indirect sunlight, so allow the soil to remain dry for a few days before re-watering. Most varieties have some type of variegated leaf making them all the more attractive.

• Name: Aglaonema
• Light: Partial, full
• Water: Minimal
• USDA Zones: 6-9

Holiday Cactus

The Holiday cactus is a trailing member of the cactus family that produces deep pink or red flowers in early winter. This is the type of plant that seems to do its best when ignored. It can handle low light but will produce more flowers in bright light. Pruning the houseplant after blooming will keep it bushy and full.

• Name: Zygocactus or Schlumbergera
• Light: Partial
• Water: Water whenever the soil has completely dried; water two to three times weekly during the summer months
• USDA Zones: 9-11

Dieffenbachia

The variegated leaves of Dieffenbachia can be extremely attractive and it is not a particularly difficult plant to grow. It does like the temperature to be on the warm side, so avoid placing it near windows and drafts. Use caution when growing this plant around pets and children. The plant is toxic to animals and people if they eat the leaves, stalks, or roots.

• Name: Dieffenbachia spp.
• Light: Partial
• Water: Minimal
• USDA Zones: 11+

Jade Plant

With its thick, glossy leaves, the jade plant is one of the most popular indoor plants. To grow lush and healthy, jade plants need plenty of sunlight, so place it in the brightest room in your home.

The tricky part about growing jade plants is providing the right amount of water. Too much water will cause their roots to rot. Too little water will result in them dropping their leaves.

Allow the soil to completely dry out before giving them more water, but don't let them sit thirsty for too long.

• Name: Crassula ovata
• Light: Full
• Water: Frequent
• USDA Zones: 10-11

Lucky Bamboo

There is a good amount of variety in the genre of dracaena and most make excellent easy-care houseplants. Two great choices are dragon tree (Dracaena marginal), which resembles a small palm tree and can reach heights of 10 feet, and lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana).

Both have stems that can be trained to bend or spiral. The stems are topped by clusters of slender arching leaves with narrow purple margins. They grow best in bright light and if allowed to dry out between waterings.

• Name: Dracaena sanderiana
• Light: Full sun, partial shade
• Water: Regular watering during the growing season
• USDA Zones: 10-11

Peace Lily

The flowers of the peace lily are its most striking feature. The white flowers are the long, thin white pannicles that are surrounded by a white leaf-like structure called a spathe.

The spathe starts bright white but fades to yellow or green, as it ages. While the peace lily prefers warm, humid conditions and light, infrequent watering, it can be made comfortable in your home, if you do not place it near drafts or in rooms that remain unheated for long periods.

• Name: Spathiphyllum
• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Light, infrequent watering
• USDA Zones: 11-12

Prayer Plant (Maranta)

The Maranta species contains plants with some of the most colorful leaves you could ask for. Although not particular about growing conditions, you will have the best luck if you locate it in a sunny spot with consistently warm temperatures.

• Name: Maranta
• Light: Partial, shade
• Water: Water whenever the top layer of its soil has completely dried
• USDA Zones: 11-12

Air Plants

Tillandsia stricta is an air plant that's hardy and low maintenance. It doesn't require soil but needs watering, proper airflow, and bright, indirect sunlight. Maintaining its care requirements well may reward you with beautiful, vibrant blooms—although only once during the plant's lifespan. Soak this unique plant in a bowl of clean water for 10 to 30 minutes.

• Name: Tillandsia stricta
• Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
• Water: Water and mist regularly
• USDA Zones: 9-11

Ponytail Palm

When ponytail palm is planted outdoors, it can grow over 30 feet tall. Indoors, this plant stays about 6 feet tall. Ponytail palm is not a true palm; rather, it's in the asparagus family.

This slow-growing plant is easy to maintain, requiring little care; it only needs ample light and water once a week or every two weeks. During its dormant months, the ponytail palm only needs water once monthly.

• Name: Beaucarnea recurvata
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Water once per week; during dormant months, water once monthly
• USDA Zones: 10-11

Peperomia

Peperomia is another plant that's suitable for beginners. This low-maintenance plant can tolerate neglect, only requiring water when the soil is dry. Slow-growing peperomia thrives in an orchid potting mix with ample drainage holes. Place the plant in bright, indirect light. Plant food or fertilizer is rarely necessary.

• Name:  Peperomia spp.
• Light: Full, partial
• Water: Water once the soil has dried
• USDA Zones: 10-12

Rubber Plant

Ficus elastica is a relatively easy houseplant. In its native habitat, it can grow up to 100 feet tall, but indoors, it will stay smaller at about 10 feet tall. Its care needs to remain healthy indoors including adequate light, moisture, and warmth.

Put it several feet away from a window with a southern or eastern exposure. This plant likes moist (but not soggy) soil and fertilizer to keep it healthy.

• Name: Ficus elastica
• Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
• Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy
• USDA Zones: 10-12

Money Tree

The money tree is a popular indoor houseplant, especially for feng shui enthusiasts, as the money tree is thought to welcome positive energy into the home.

This fast-growing houseplant is low-maintenance, loving at least six hours of bright to medium indirect sunlight daily. Water your money tree regularly, but reduce the amount of watering during the fall and winter.

• Name: Pachira aquatica
  
• Light: Full, partial
• Water: Regular
• USDA Zones: 10-12

English Ivy

While the English ivy is a popular outdoor plant, it can also be grown indoors. Planting your English ivy in hanging baskets or containers will make caring for this deep green plant that much easier. English ivy can tolerate low-light conditions.

• Name: Hedera helix
• Light: Partial sun to full shade
• Water: Water once the top inch of soil is dry to the touch
• USDA Zones: 5-11

Anthurium

Anthurium is a stunningly vibrant indoor houseplant that is low maintenance. These plants are slow-growing and require a fair amount of humidity and warmth in order to live their best life. Place an Anthurium in a room that has bright, indirect sunlight, as it is susceptible to sunburn.

• Name: Anthurium spp.
• Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
• Water: Allow the soil to dry out completely in between each watering
• USDA Zones: 11-12